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Experiencing the nocturnal activities of brushtail possums can be quite disruptive for those living in urban areas. These creatures, known for their nighttime antics, spend their days resting and come alive after dusk, engaging in foraging, climbing, and scuttling across rooftops.
Brushtail possums have a breeding cycle that spans the entire year, with significant peaks during autumn and spring. Their adaptability and survival in city environments, where much of their natural habitat has been destroyed, are noteworthy.
As expert Soanes highlights, Australians should appreciate the presence of possums in urban settings. “We’re fortunate that possums have adapted well to urban life, but we must also develop strategies for coexisting with them. This includes preventing them from causing damage or pilfering fruits like nectarines,” she explained.
Possums in the city serve as a reminder of the resilience of wildlife amidst urban development, urging us to find harmonious ways to share our spaces with these adaptable creatures.
While these animals may seem hardy, they are territorial, and in many cases will not survive when moved further away.
Trapping and moving possums is extremely stressful for the animal. Source: Supplied / WIRES
Belinda Head, a possum coordinator with the WIRES wildlife rescue group in Sydney’s east, said she routinely encounters people who mistakenly believe they’re “doing the right thing” by capturing a possum and moving it to bush or parklands.
WIRES has received a growing number of reports about possums in recent years, rising from around 17,200 in 2023 to nearly 20,800 in 2024 and more than 22,800 so far this year.
Wildlife Victoria received more than 19,000 reports of brushtail and ringtail possums needing assistance in the last financial year. The top causes included being trapped, orphaned or injured.
How to get your roof space back — without harming its new resident
Typically installed in trees, they mimic natural hollows, which have become increasingly scarce in urban areas due to the removal of trees.
Nestboxes can offer alternative accommodation to possums — and help you get your sleep back. Source: Getty / Auscape/Universal Images Group
Soane said another option is to wait for the possum to leave your roof space at night and then block the entrance — but it’s imperative to be sure you haven’t trapped it inside.
“If you do that over a few days or a week, just to get a sense of what the different entry points are, then you know how you can make your plan of defence,” Soane said.
Failing to block up the entry points could mean this possum, or another one, takes up residence in the future.
How to identify a humane possum removalist
Calling your local wildlife group and asking if it has any preferred providers is another option.
What about my veggie garden and the nighttime noise?
You may consider setting up physical barriers — such as fine wire mesh or fruit protection bags — to limit access overnight. Make sure any mesh is wildlife-safe, with holes smaller than 5mm, so possums and birds can’t become entangled.
A brushtail possum caught in a soccer net that was rescued by a WIRES volunteer. Source: Supplied / WIRES
Soane also suggested natural possum repellent sprays such as Poss-Off.
Installing wildlife cameras can be a helpful and fun tool to see what your furry neighbours are getting up to, and to ensure possums are actually the culprit.
